Loss of all electrical power while driving

[Riden8ked]

Good morning gents, so last night i had my family in the m1009 and we were all nice and warm cruising down the highway. Went to change lanes as cars were attempting to merge onto the highway and all of a sudden my headlights shut off, all the lights on my dash went out and the engine shut off. Was able to safely pull over to the right shoulder. Tried to start the truck, no electrical power. Checked the batteries, both were fine. All of a sudden power came back on, fired it up and i boogied home. It was a little unnerving with what happened but im not sure if its a really or loose connection somewhere.


My alternator is less than 2 years old. Its a 12v system with only one alternator. I have noticed issues with a slow drain somewhere, but i leave my truck on a battery tender.

I appreciate any input as im stumped

 

[Barrman]

A sudden off and then back on for no apparent reason almost always points to a loose or corroded connection. I suggest you start with removing each battery terminal, cleaning it and putting it back on. Do both ends of all 4 battery wires. Use sand paper, scuff pads, nail files or just a screwdriver tip to clean every surface on the wire ends and where they touch.

Once you get to the Buss bars on the firewall. Take each and every connection on them apart, clean and tighten back up. More than likely, you will find a few connections that make you say “This is the problem.”

Just for fun though. Unbolt the thru the firewall connection with a 10 mm socket. Pull it apart and have a look at the contacts. GM used some kind of goo tar like substance in there. Verify that no arcing has taken place, no contacts are bent over and put it tightly back together.

 

[Mullaney]

Good morning gents, so last night i had my family in the m1009 and we were all nice and warm cruising down the highway. Went to change lanes as cars were attempting to merge onto the highway and all of a sudden my headlights shut off, all the lights on my dash went out and the engine shut off. Was able to safely pull over to the right shoulder. Tried to start the truck, no electrical power. Checked the batteries, both were fine. All of a sudden power came back on, fired it up and i boogied home. It was a little unnerving with what happened but im not sure if its a really or loose connection somewhere.


My alternator is less than 2 years old. Its a 12v system with only one alternator. I have noticed issues with a slow drain somewhere, but i leave my truck on a battery tender.

I appreciate any input as im stumped

.
Along with @Barrman 's cleaning the connections, a tiny bit of Anti-Oxidant paste will help keep those connections clean over time.

 

[antennaclimber]

Also check the splices on the fusible links near the 12v diamond shaped junction on the firewall.
Tug and pull on them a little to ensure that they are still in good shape. Sometimes they will become intermittent and cause the same issue you experienced.

 

[MarkM]

On all electrical connections I use Permatex copper never seize.

Obviously It's a great never seize but also helps prevent Galvanic corrosion (dissimilar-metal corrosion). This product is also a good electrical conductor and can handle high temps so it's a win win all the way around. Just my 02 cents.

Mark

 

[Barrman]

I was so caught in thinking about his 12 volt conversion that I didn’t mention the diamond shaped part. What the manual calls the Engine harness block. thanks for reminding me.


Here is a video I made a few months ago about it:

 

[WWRD99]

Good morning gents, so last night i had my family in the m1009 and we were all nice and warm cruising down the highway. Went to change lanes as cars were attempting to merge onto the highway and all of a sudden my headlights shut off, all the lights on my dash went out and the engine shut off. Was able to safely pull over to the right shoulder. Tried to start the truck, no electrical power. Checked the batteries, both were fine. All of a sudden power came back on, fired it up and i boogied home. It was a little unnerving with what happened but im not sure if its a really or loose connection somewhere.


My alternator is less than 2 years old. Its a 12v system with only one alternator. I have noticed issues with a slow drain somewhere, but i leave my truck on a battery tender.

I appreciate any input as im stumped

Sounds like you had 2 problems but if the lights just shut off like you hit the balckout switch then it could be the fuse melted in the box...30 amp...on the right side about in the middle....I've had all mine go bad to the point the metal fuse end fell out of the plastic fuse...I'd check and replace all the fuses in the box...or rusted some...the next thing I'd check is the ignition switch...if it's out or your key is loose it may be out of adjustment or the switch is bad...could be your switch is stuck on accessory killing the battery too.

 

[Curtisje]

Check your grounds as well. This happened to me.

No Power (electrical) SOLVED

I got in my truck last week and turned the key to find no power whatsoever. I had driven it to work that morning and I was busy so I left it and went back to my office. Later on I went back to it, fiddled with the wires on the junction above the glow plug relay and it started so I drove it home...

steelsoldiers.com

Good luck.

 

[Riden8ked]

Sounds like you had 2 problems but if the lights just shut off like you hit the balckout switch then it could be the fuse melted in the box...30 amp...on the right side about in the middle....I've had all mine go bad to the point the metal fuse end fell out of the plastic fuse...I'd check and replace all the fuses in the box...or rusted some...the next thing I'd check is the ignition switch...if it's out or your key is loose it may be out of adjustment or the switch is bad...could be your switch is stuck on accessory killing the battery too.

Everything went out at the same time, lights all electrical and engine

 

[Riden8ked]

Thank you all, im going to tear into all the electrical connections today clean and paste them up with the proper electrical grease. Got up this morning to make a dump run, electrical volts at 9. No start as batteries were dead. Im going to get 2 new batteries as soon as i jump it

 

[nyoffroad]

Thank you all, im going to tear into all the electrical connections today clean and paste them up with the proper electrical grease. Got up this morning to make a dump run, electrical volts at 9. No start as batteries were dead. Im going to get 2 new batteries as soon as i jump it

Now would be a good time to start cleaning all those connections, seeing as everything blacked out at the same time, I'd pay special attention to the main battery cables.

 

[the skull]

On all electrical connections I use Permatex copper never seize.

Obviously It's a great never seize but also helps prevent Galvanic corrosion (dissimilar-metal corrosion). This product is also a good electrical conductor and can handle high temps so it's a win win all the way around. Just my 02 cents.

Mark

View attachment 887240

that's a really good idea. i might try that

 

[WWRD99]

Everything went out at the same time, lights all electrical and engine

That really does sound like the ignition switch. Can find out quick once you get it running tomorrow...once it is, remove the ground cable on the front battery and see if it shuts off...if the bad ground theory is valid, then it should shut off...which it shouldn't...low light output or slow or no engine turning over points to poor grounds and such, not complete shutdown. Battery drain can be from a alternator as well as a ignition switch with bad contacts or out of adjustment or just worn out.

 

[Riden8ked]

That really does sound like the ignition switch. Can find out quick once you get it running tomorrow...once it is, remove the ground cable on the front battery and see if it shuts off...if the bad ground theory is valid, then it should shut off...which it shouldn't...low light output or slow or no engine turning over points to poor grounds and such, not complete shutdown. Battery drain can be from a alternator as well as a ignition switch with bad contacts or out of adjustment or just worn out.

Thank you sir!! Ill try that also give you all updates when complete

 

[Riden8ked]

So yesterday i bought a new 12v battery, kept my old one and threw it on the charger. A buddy of mine told me if i didnt have a voltage meter on me to take a screwdriver and place it on the back of the alternator in the center while running and it should be magnetized. It was not. The truck when i bought it was converted to a 12v system and only the drivers side alternator is wired. It has an isolated ground to the intake manifold. The passenger side alternator is shot. If my alternator is bad can i just get a rebuild kit for it and would it be the same kit for a 24v system?

 

[nyoffroad]

So yesterday i bought a new 12v battery, kept my old one and threw it on the charger. A buddy of mine told me if i didnt have a voltage meter on me to take a screwdriver and place it on the back of the alternator in the center while running and it should be magnetized. It was not. The truck when i bought it was converted to a 12v system and only the drivers side alternator is wired. It has an isolated ground to the intake manifold. The passenger side alternator is shot. If my alternator is bad can i just get a rebuild kit for it and would it be the same kit for a 24v system?

Yes and yes, same kit because all the Alt. are 12v. Well in most CUCV's the ambulance is different.

 

[nyoffroad]

That really does sound like the ignition switch. Can find out quick once you get it running tomorrow...once it is, remove the ground cable on the front battery and see if it shuts off...if the bad ground theory is valid, then it should shut off...which it shouldn't...low light output or slow or no engine turning over points to poor grounds and such, not complete shutdown. Battery drain can be from a alternator as well as a ignition switch with bad contacts or out of adjustment or just worn out.

A bad Ign switch shouldn't have any effect on the headlights.

 

[ssdvc]

When you start cleaning grounds, it is always a good idea to make sure the battery (or batteries) are disconnected. I did find that out the hard way (a DUH moment).

Where in CT are you?